The Colonial Legacy Behind Spain's North African Enclaves

• The article argues that Spain's claims to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are rooted in a history of colonial domination rather than legitimate sovereignty.
• European and Spanish migration policies are criticized for instrumentalizing the suffering of migrants and funding repression in North Africa.

Historical Context and Militarization

• Ceuta and Melilla have functioned as military outposts since the 1859 invasion of Morocco, established to secure Spanish dominance in the region.
• During the Rif War, the Spanish military deployed chemical weapons—including phosgene and mustard gas—against civilian populations, practices later repeated during the Spanish Civil War.
• The economic viability of these enclaves has historically depended on their role as military garrisons, and the symbols of Spanish power in the capital are linked to these past conflicts.

Modern Implications

• The author critiques the rise of nationalist rhetoric that frames migrants as enemies, arguing that such sentiment serves to mask structural injustices and colonial continuity.
• The reliance on the Moroccan government to act as a 'gendarme' for European borders at the expense of human rights is described as complicity in systemic violence.
• The piece concludes by calling for an end to these colonial structures and the initiation of a decolonization process that reflects contemporary human rights standards.